Best Sports Bars and Pubs showing Live Rugby
This page is your one-stop-shop for the very best rugby pubs the UK has to offer. With so much going on from Six Nations to European Champions Cup and Aviva Premiership to the Rugby Championship and coverage spread across a variety of channels, finding a venue that caters to all your rugby needs can be tricky. That's where we come in. Browse the list or search by location to see which great rugby pubs we recommend in your area.
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Rugby
Watching these titanic matches in the company of fellow rugby fans is what British life is all about. So, here’s our list of the very best rugby pubs in the UK for you to choose from. See also our best pubs for Six Nations if you're a capital dweller. Tape up those thighs, Vaseline your brow up real good & check out our scrumtastic tips below!
Booking Available
London EC4V 6AA
Albion
Central London, Blackfriars. One of MatchPint's most loved pubs with great beer from Young's brewery, scrummy burgers and a whole heap of rucking great sport on TV. Their reputation has built steadily over the years and now sits, deservedly, as one of London's best traditional sports pubs. Sky Sports and BT Sport.
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London EC1R 0BJ
Bowler Pub and Kitchen
London, Clerkenwell. Another MatchPint favourite and where we'll be watching the first game of the 2014 Six Nations. Home-cooked food and a tasty range of beers on tap combine nicely with comfortable seating and a big screen for those that turn up early.
Tier 4
London EC1R 0BJ
Bowler Pub and Kitchen
Central London, Clerkenwell. The Bowler Pub and Kitchen is conveniently located on Bowling Green Lane, off Farringdon road. It is an excellent place for the Six Nations in particular as they have a 10ft screen along with 2 HD TV’s. A fresh locally sourced British pub menu, and reasonable prices make it the perfect place for a weekend of Rugby. The Scotch Eggs are superb and the bar staff always friendly. One of MatchPint's favourite venues for sport. Sky Sports only.
Tier 4
Booking Available
London SE1 1HR
Belushis and The Dugout
West London, Hammersmith. Open from 7 in the morning, Belushi's is the best bar for Rugby in London when it comes to early morning games from Down Under! With a big sports emphasis and an attitude to bars which brings with it affordable food and drink, Belushi's is a proper sports bar. So wake up, smell the coffee, and get your bum on that seat. Good parties at the weekend too! Sky Sports and BT Sport.
Tier 4
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London SW11 1HG
Merchant
South West London, Battersea. First the downside: you have to walk to the top of Battersea Rise past lots of very attractive places (and probably lots of very attractive mothers) to get there. But once you're there, it's worth the walk! With three large projectors showing rugby and other sport on Sky Sports and BT Sport, The Merchant is a cracking spot to grab some food and take in one of London's more surprising pubs (three coloured wines on tap no less). Table fusball and simple but elegant decor make it well worth a visit for the rugby in the area. Sky Sports and BT Sport.
Tier 4
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London SE15 3NX
Rye
South East London, Peckham. It's rare to find a pub in South East London that pulls in the crowd for Rugger, but the Rye certainly does a job of work. Re-opened in 2012 following a major redevelopment, it's a charming pub in Peckham Rye that serves excellent food, a great choice of drinks and comes with all the trimmings you'd want: log fire, family friendly outdoor picnic benches and a table tennis table. Even though there's a dearth of rugby pubs in south-east London, this is by no means the best of a bad bunch - the Rye would stand up as one of London's best pubs by any standard. Sky Sports and BT Sport.
Tier 4
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Booking Available
London W1T 4ND
One Tun
London, Goodge Street. Our recommendation if you have the misfortune of finding yourself on Oxford Street as the rugby kicks off. Youngs beer and home cooked burgers are a great combo. The perfect escape from Top Shop.
Tier 4
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London WC2B 5AA
Philomena's Irish Sports Bar & Kitchen
London, Covent Garden. What once was an out-the-box O'Neills high street pub is now a bustling Irish run independent mecca for rugby fans, the Irish in particular. You will need to be here early if you want any chance of catching the rugger.
Tier 4
London EC4A 4BL
Hoop & Grapes
London, Blackfriars. Awarded Sky Sports' Ultimate Venue award for the south-east of England in 2013, the Hoop and Grapes has something for everyone. A traditional food and drink menu, 6 screens throughout with one of them outside, cozy tables and well thought-through zoning of sport ensures an eclectic mix of rugby, football, NFL and tennis fans amongst everything else.
Manchester M1 4HL
Seven Oaks
Located in the heart of Manchester, Seven Oaks has got you sorted if you're looking to watch the rugby. A projector screen, 4K screen and the ability to show a bunch of games at once means you can watch every scrum, ruck and tackle.
Tier 4
Hammersmith W6 9BG
The Cross Keys
South West London, Hammersmith. Boasting James May as a regular and home to plenty of front-row forwards, the Cross Keys is the sort of pub you might like to hibernate in during the winter. With its cozy seating and warm oak decor, you're advised to bed in for lunch and stay until next Spring. Great beer from Fuller's and plenty of screens to catch the rugby on. Sky Sports and BT Sport.
Tier 4
Booking Available
London SE1 8UD
Wellington, Waterloo
Central London, Waterloo. Located right outside Waterloo station, the Wellington couldn't be more conveniently located if you're taking a trip down to Twickenham later in the day. If you're staying in the city though, it's well worth your money popping in to grab all the rugby action. There are more screens than successful Lions tours and the beer is as delicious as Wilko's left peg. Sky Sports and BT Sport.
Tier 4
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London EC1V 4NJ
The Old Red Lion Theatre Pub
London, Angel. Claiming to be - perhaps - London's oldest pub, the Old Red Lion Theatre pub is an eclectic mix of discerning artistes and knowledgeable sports fans. The room upstairs with big screen fills up early so get in as soon as you can. Old-school and friendly. A pub for the classics.
Tier 4
Booking Available
London SW1Y 4TE
Rileys Sports Bar Haymarket
London, Piccadilly Circus. London's newest and biggest sports bar, replacing the old Sports Cafe with plenty of talk and no shortage of walk. Numerous screens, a highly-affordable menu and the guarantee of watching 47 matches simultaneously.
Tier 4
London NW1 7BU
Oxford Arms Camden
London, Camden. A super-friendly Irish family-run pub in the heart of Camden offers 4 games at once and plenty of atmosphere on match days. A favourite amongst locals but still embelished by a smattering of passers by, rugby days are great days at the Oxford.
Tier 4
Cambridge CB2 1HW
The Alma
THE place to go for rugby in Cambridge. The Alma guarantee to show every Aviva Premiership, European and international game live on their big screens and plenty of the action from the Pro 14 and Super Rugby whenever they can. Always packs a belting atmosphere for international games.
Tier 4
